Disclaimer: This is my version of year 7. Any similarities to Deathly Hallows is purely incedential since I wrote this a year ago. Plot and OC's belong to me: ) Harry and gang, and plot referring to years 1-6, belong to the fabulous JK Rowling.
Chapter 12: Moving Along
The next morning at breakfast everyone got their new schedules. With no defense class, everyone finished an hour earlier every day. "Talk about a mixed blessing," Ron muttered. After breakfast Harry went to the hospital wing because he knew Petunia and Dudley would be leaving sometime that day. He felt he should say his goodbyes now since he would be in class later.
After classes ended the first day, everyone headed up to the common room since they had over an hour to kill till dinner. Emma noticed how all the DA members had continuously come up to Harry asking if they would be starting them again. "If I didn't have to worry about finding the horcruxe, I would be all for it," Harry told the others.
"Well, it honestly doesn't seem fair," Emma said. "I mean, you would only be teaching a handful of students in our year. There are still tons of students in our year and all the years below us that deserve to be taught too, and there is no way you could teach each and every one of them unless you took on the teaching position."
"I think he could do it," Ron said.
"Yes, except he still has the problem of needing time to find the Horcruxes," Hermione pointed out.
"Well, if anyone has any ideas, let me know. Especially if it will keep everyone from bugging me so much," Harry said.
"Actually, I do have an idea," Emma said. Everyone looked at her. "We have all this free time before dinner, right? And pretty much everyone is here. What if we used this time as, like, a group study session? We could all practice here together and help each other and the younger students."
"That is a brilliant idea," Hermione said excitedly. "This way, it will almost be like the DA but we can help as many people as possible!"
"That still only helps our house, though," Harry pointed out.
"Oh don't you see Harry! If we tell the other DA members then we will be spreading the idea amongst the other houses, well, except Slytherin," Hermione mended.
"It could work," Harry said thinking about it. "Lets run it by some of the others and see what they think." Harry called Neville and Dean over and asked them what they thought of the idea.
"Bloody brilliant!" Dean said. "Even if the other houses don't like it, I'm all for it."
"Me too," Neville said.
They all headed down to dinner and Harry motioned for Ernie and Luna to come over. "We have an idea," Harry told them and told them the plan.
"Brilliant," Ernie said pompously. "I think it is a fabulous idea. I'm willing. I'll talk it over with some of the other Hufflepuff DA's and see if they want to help." Luna nodded dreamily and glided back over to the Ravenclaw table.
"Well, that leaves Slytherin. Do we really want to tell them?" Ron said.
"It does seem only fair," Hermione said. "Besides, we've learned not all Slytherins are bad," she said looking at Emma.
"Who should talk to them?" Harry asked.
"I'll do it," Emma said.
"Why?" Neville asked.
"It's a long story," Emma said. Ron switched the subject to quidditch and they all started talking about that instead.
When dinner was over Emma found Pansy in the crowd and waited until she separated herself from Millicent. She grabbed her hand and pulled her into the cloak closet.
"What the h . . .O'Neill," she sneered. "Is this some sort of sick joke?" She had her wand aimed at Emma which Emma ignored. Emma motioned for Finn (her Slytherin guard) to come into the closet; he glared at Pansy and grabbed her wrist to take her wand away from her.
"Have you decided what to do about Defense lessons, because we have and it would look suspicious if Slytherins were the only ones not concerned about learning Defense," Emma said evenly before Pansy could yell at Finn.
"Just because you had a one-time thing with Draco doesn't mean you can talk to Slytherins whenever you like," Pansy sneered. "Wherever he is, he's mine, and what the hell is with you defending her?" she snapped, turning to Finn. Finn simply ignored her.
"But is that what you really want? A Malfoy, most wanted by Voldemort who can't even show himself in public now?" Emma asked. She saw the doubt and lies in her eyes. "Be honest with yourself before you go claiming territory that isn't yours."
Pansy glared at her out of instinct. "Are we through?"
Emma shook her head. She quickly told her and Finn the idea the other houses had and then Pansy walked out. Emma sighed, exchanging looks with Finn. "If she doesn't say anything, I figured you could tell others, too."
"Of course. I think it's a smashing idea," Finn said holding the door for her. He knew she picked Pansy since Pansy had a lot of pull in the Slytherin house. Emma kissed Finn's cheek and walked back to the common room.
"How'd it go? Any hexes?" Ron asked quickly. "You look alright, at least."
"I talked with Pansy. Whether or not they do it, who knows," Emma shrugged.
"I still don't know why it was you," Neville said. "And why you picked Pansy of all people." Emma just shrugged; Neville still looked confused why she chose Pansy of all people but didn't say anything.
By breakfast the next morning everyone was talking about the idea, including the Slytherins (who refused to acknowledge the Gryffindors came up with idea first).
"I think it's a hit," Ron said.
"So when do lessons start, Harry?" Dean asked him.
"Ah . . ." Harry said thinking about it. "Well, I guess we could see about tonight, it really is just when people want to do it, you know?"
Dean nodded excitedly. He and Seamus started discussing what they hoped to learn. "Now I feel like there's a whole lot of pressure to do this well," Harry said.
"It isn't about you, Harry. It's not just you teaching everyone. This time others can help too, especially with the younger years."
Harry nodded. He, Emma, Ron, and Hermione walked to their first period which was potions. "If he teaches us a potion that is essence of Heart break, or some other way to kill pieces of souls, I'm going to cry," Ron said making them all laugh.
By the time classes were over, everyone was packed in the common room. "It might be too crowded to actually practice," Harry commented.
"Well, what are we going to do then Harry?" Seamus asked excitedly. Harry turned to Ron, Hermione, Emma, and Ginny who gave him an encouraging smile.
"Well . . .obviously each year will be working on different things. It will be important for all the older students to help the younger years, not just me," Harry said quickly. "I think we should break into our years first." He waited until everyone did. "Okay . . .um. Emma? Can you give the seventh years something to do?" He asked knowing if Dean and Seamus were occupied they wouldn't bug him.
Emma thought through her mother's seventh year and picked one of her earlier lessons. The nine of them started working on it.
Harry went to the sixth years knowing that Ginny would help in her year. He explained to them what non-verbal spells were and set them to practicing stunning and shielding. He continued going to each grade giving them something to practice with and ended with teaching the first years expelliarmis. He then went back to the seventh years to get some practice of whatever it was they were doing.
"Harry, can you help?" People kept asking. The seventh years ended up running around helping the other students more than doing anything else. "Maybe we need to come up with something else," Harry whispered to Emma who was helping the six years with non-verbal spells.
By the time dinner came around everyone went down excitedly talking about defense lessons. "Harry, mate, now I know how you felt in the DA," Ron said. "Some of the first years were worse than Neville!"
"Thanks," Neville said behind him making Ron turn red.
"Maybe seventh years should practice on their own somewhere. We don't get time helping everyone else," Hermione said thinking. As they walked in they were pounced on by Ernie and some other DA members who had the same issues.
"Temporarily lets just help the younger years and then we can work on our own." Harry said.
"How do we even know if we are all teaching the same thing?" Ernie asked.
"Good point," Harry said. "Lets talk about it at the prefects meeting tonight."
That night Harry and Hermione, head Boy and Girl, lead the meeting which consisted of a lot of people talking about the defense lessons. "We could lay out lesson plans here in the Prefects meeting so we all know what we are all covering," Hermione suggested.
"I think seventh years really need to find a time alone to practice otherwise we would never get to practice anything new," Emma spoke up.
"When? We have classes, homework, these new lessons, quidditch, and prefect duties," Pansy sneered.
'How were you ever friends with her?' Emma asked.
'Friends is a strong qualification,' Draco said.
After much grumbling, particularly by the Slytherins, everyone decided that the defense lessons before dinner would be just the ones for first through six years. Seventh years would meet during their free periods in the morning to work and lessons would be generated at prefect meetings.
"Between quidditch practices, head duties, lessons, classes, and homework, when are we ever going to find time for the horcruxe?" Harry wondered.
The first week flew by the fastest in Hogwarts History. Seventh years were even more busy than normal with their new lessons but no one, not even the Slytherins, were complaining. "Yet. It's just a matter of time. The Slytherins have got to be the first to crack," Ron joked.
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Emma was at the Society meeting the second week and was extra thankful she didn't become Head Girl. Being in charge of the Society on top of everything else was exhausting. Emma, Ginny, Neville, and Seamus were walking back from the meeting together as usual. "How did you convince your mum to come?" Emma asked Seamus.
"I am of age and I told her it was my decision to make. I figure Hogwarts is still safe now and we need to learn as much as possible. What are we going to do after next year?"
No one had an answer. They walked inside and started on homework. Emma watched as one-by-one everyone went to bed. Emma pulled out a book and started researching more spells for the seventh years to work on while she guarded Harry. Draco stayed awake and talked to her to keep her company and make suggestions from Snape.
The beginning of October brought about the first quidditch game of the season which was Slytherin versus Hufflepuff. Everyone was excited as the game began but Harry pulled Emma aside.
"Maybe we should start brewing the potion we need," Harry said. The four of them snuck back to the castle and rushed to their dormitory grabbing potion ingredients.
"Do you remember how to make it?" He asked worriedly. Emma nodded.
"The memory is right here," she said chuckling and pointing to her head. They reached Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. "Um, Harry, wait here. I don't know if she has forgiven you yet," Emma said.
"She can get a bit moody," Ron said. Emma walked in and they waited for what felt like forever before she popped back out again. "Alright, come in," Emma said happily.
Myrtle just sniffed and floated into one of the stalls. "She wants you to apologize," Emma whispered. "She thinks you did it on purpose."
Harry gave her a look of confusion but Hermione nudged him forward. "Um, Myrtle? I'm sorry for what I did last year," he said quickly. "It was the last thing I meant to do."
Myrtle gave a sniff and nodded her head (she had stuck her upper torso through the stall door). "That's what she said and if Draco isn't mad at it, then I guess you can use my bathroom."
"But it isn't your . . ." Ron started but Hermione smacked his shoulder to make him shut-up before upsetting Myrtle again.
Emma and Hermione started making the beginning of the potion when Emma's head snapped up. "Someone is coming," she whispered. Everything happened quickly; in a matter of three seconds Harry and Ron quickly ducked into a stall while Hermione and Emma started to panic over the potion. Hermione just vanished what they had and hid the cauldron.
The door swung open with Hermione looking very sheepish (they had just handed the cauldron to Harry who let out a yelp of surprise) as Emma leaned against one of the sinks looking non-chalant; for a moment Hermione wondered what it would take to make Emma break that facade.
"Ginny! What on earth are you doing here?" Hermione asked. "You gave us a fright."
"What's going on?" She demanded. "And don't tell me you are just going to the bathroom. No one uses this bathroom." Hermione and Emma looked at each other. "You can come in Neville," Ginny said. Neville walked in looking awkward. "He followed me."
"I figured she was also looking for the four of you. But Ginny, this is the girls lav, I shouldn't be here," he said.
"Neither should Ron or Harry," Hermione laughed. Ron let out a groan as he tripped out the stall door.
"Thanks, 'mione. Give up our cover," he said. Harry stepped out of his stall more graciously. He handed Emma back the cauldron.
"Next time, tell us who is coming," Ron said. Emma rolled her eyes mumbling about not being a guard dog.
"You knew we were coming?" Neville asked.
"What are you doing?" Ginny asked.
"We were making a potion," Emma said truthfully.
"What kind of potion?" Neville asked. "Nothing to get you kicked out I hope," he said. Realization dawned on him. "Is this something to fight Voldemort with?" He asked hopefully, stumbling over Voldemort's name since he wasn't completely use to saying it yet.
The others looked at each other and then nodded. "It is what we were working on during the summer," Harry told Ginny.
"How does it work?" she asked.
"We can't explain any of the details, at least, not right now," Harry said. Ginny nodded.
"Can we help?" Neville asked.
"Well, there isn't much to do, really. It's mainly Hermione and Emma who figured out how to make it."
"What is it then?" Neville asked curiously.
"Well, it's essence of Heartbreak," Hermione said.
"How will that defeat Voldemort?" Ginny asked. Hermione and Emma had set back down and were starting the potion again.
"Love in all forms is very powerful, believe me," Emma said with a smile. "It makes people do crazy things, but it also can break a person's soul in ways not even death can."
"So, love will defeat him?" Neville asked confused.
"Parts of him," Harry said. Neville just shook his head. He wasn't sure what Harry meant, but wanted to help, so he didn't question it. Emma and Hermione continued to start the potion and an hour later they were all sneaking out of the bathroom again.
"Now what?" Ginny asked excitedly.
"We keep adding ingredients for the next week," Emma said. "It should be ready then."
"But then what? Surely you're not going to just invite him to the girls lav, and offer him a drink," Neville said making everyone laugh.
"Not quite," Ron said, "but not too far off either." No one would say any more and they arrived back at the common room. The game had already ended with Slytherin winning by 100 points. That night the entire team was invigorated to practice even more since their first match was in a few weeks and they wanted to win the cup again this year.
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Author's Notes Special thanks to everyone who reviewed! (MidnightRain, Twilightloverkaren, Animecrazy, childofthekng, essaouire, prof. Epona, iceball, readerwriterwhatever, & KRP). I am so behind in school I can't go through each, but I appreciate them so much! (especially since this week was totally wretched). Just to highlight a point KRP made in his review, they will probably be at Hogwarts longer than they anticipated! (Well, I know they will be in Hogwarts longer than they anticipated), but not the whole school year. I have other plans for all of them. And beware my deathstick! It makes an appearance in a few chapters!
